Working together: Baton Rouge-based Albemarle Corp. and ICL, a specialty chemicals company in bromine and bromine derivatives, announced today that they have entered into a long-term lease agreement for the supply of polymeric flame retardant. According to a news release, the product is manufactured at ICL’s facilities in the Netherlands and Israel. Technology licensed from Dow Global Technologies, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, is used in the manufacturing process. The companies say the flame retardant is a sustainable alternative for customers transitioning from hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-based flame retardants currently used in the building industry. Albemarle is marketing the next generation flame retardant under the brand name GreenCrest, and under ICL is marketing under the brand name FR122P.
New hires: Two LSU alumni are taking on executive leadership positions at Fidelity Bank, the company has announced. Charles LeFevre, a former compliance examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the Dallas region/Baton Rouge field office, has been named senior vice president and compliance officer. Todd Schexnayder, an LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation board member, will join the bank as a senior vice president and human resources director. The New Orleans-based bank, which has a branch in Baton Rouge, has also appointed Lori Pausina as vice president, retail sales and service leader. Pausina has more than 27 years of banking experience, the bank says, most recently serving in a management role at Whitney Bank.
Moving in: A Texas-based Creole food manufacturer is eying a former southwest Louisiana school building as a distribution center. The American Press reports Beaumont-based Southern Creole Foods may lease the old James Ward Elementary School in Jennings from the Jeff Davis School Board. The board is considering a five-year, $62,000 lease-to-own agreement with the company. Superintendent Brian Lejeune says there have not been a lot of offers on the building—which has been vacant for 11 years—because it is not in the best condition. The school board discussed the lease last week, but members delayed final approval, saying they needed more time to review the lease terms after questions were raised about subleasing, insurance and breach of agreement. Read the full story.
